What is a Shaker Kitchen?
Despite being a design style for centuries, we’re still asked: ‘What is a Shaker kitchen?’
If you like simplicity and classical styles, you will like Shaker kitchens. Shaker kitchens are those that have a flat panel in the centre with square edges. They are usually symmetrical and they don’t have a lot of detail, so they are perfect to stand the test of time, as they will never go out of style or look old-fashioned.
The Shaker kitchens are incredibly versatile and can be used to create the perfect country, traditional, contemporary kitchen.
Shaker kitchen history
The Shaker movement has left a lasting legacy in the world of design. The Shakers’ use of clean lines and carefully measured proportions created a sense of serenity in their buildings, and their focus on quality has helped their style to endure. The core Shaker ideals of sustainable living, clean design and excellent craftsmanship, translate beautifully into our modern homes.
Little has changed in the design of a Shaker kitchen since its conception back in the 1700s. The Christian subgroup, the Shakers, believed in modest values and conservative reserve. They portrayed this through the simplicity of their kitchens.
It was, in fact, the Shaker group that first attempted mass production of kitchen furniture in America. They became so successful that the Shaker’s name became synonymous with expertise and quality. The dovetail joints that we still use in our furniture were a hallmark of their style.
The Shakers first rose to fame following the Revolutionary War between the Americans and the British. The Shaker style deliberately distanced itself from the British and European styles, which made it hugely popular with staunch colonialist support.
Thanks to their simplistic lines, minimalist style and flexibility of form, these kitchens can easily blend into any type of home.
Our Shaker kitchens
A Shaker kitchen relies on craftsmanship, not ornamentation, to impress. The master craftsmen in our Bristol kitchen workshop are experts at creating a high-quality finish using beautiful materials.
From our Bespoke range to our Honest Kitchens Range, our Shaker doors are made with a robust birch plywood carcass, whilst our doors are made from a durable tulip frame and a sturdy Medite core.
In a Shaker kitchen, colour is key. The Shakers chose earthy tones, favouring autumnal oranges, Venetian reds and pale ochres to reflect the changing seasons of the land they farmed. Today, the colour palette has expanded to include rich blues, dark greens and natural hessians. Choosing a vibrant colour for your kitchen is a wonderful way to make this classic design yours.
Traditional Shaker kitchens
Our traditional kitchens incorporate the best of Shaker design. Lines are sleek, clean and classic, with recessed panel cabinets and frames that scribe straight to the floor. We can work with you to seamlessly integrate modern fittings and appliances into this traditional setting, making sure that the spell of Shaker simplicity isn’t broken.
You can also add additional beaded detailing to your Shaker door to capture the traditional manor aesthetic.
Contemporary Shaker Kitchens
Our designers love to take a classic design and bring it into the present day. Our contemporary shaker range is our most popular and with good reason. It offers the same simplicity, quality, and craftsmanship that you get in all of our Sustainable Kitchens traditional shaker kitchens – but with a modern twist.
